Cricket Tournaments

The World cup is only half way through but the way the teams have gone thus far tells you a lot about what is to come.

Group A has panned out as expected, the International teams have decimated the Associates. Canada, Zimbabwe and Kenya have only ratified the ICC’s decision of streaming down the number of teams for the next world cup down under. Kenya have been the most impressive of the Associate teams as far as Group A is concerned, improving considerably with every game.

Here is a look at how the top 4 teams have gone (Group A) and what lies ahead:

Australia

- The defending champions came into the tournament on the back of a drubbing that they offered the Poms after an embarrassing defeat in the Ashes. Australia have a lot of things going for them this tournament, decent batting order, potent attack and fabulous fielders.

- However, a few obvious gaping holes do lie in between. Their batting has been suspect this tournament, despite the 320 odd that they scored against the Kenyans. Both the openers have looked sublime but the middle order has not been able to keep the score board ticking. Michael Clarke was an exception today, but, Ricky Ponting and Cameron White have been in woeful touch with the bat. Ponting has still snuck through but White’s form has been real cause for concern.

- On the positive note, Michael Hussey has returned to the Australian side giving the batting much needed potency in the middle order. Hussey always seems to have a calming influence about himself that invariably rubs of on his peers.

- All the talk about the Australian bowling being the best in the tournament, the three pronged pace attack looked ordinary against Kenya and could be exposed against better oppositions in the quarter finals if they fail to hit their lengths. Having said this, I personally do believe that if the bowlers hit their straps soon, the oppositions may be in for some contest. Add to this, their bowling has the best strike rate across all teams this world cup. Australia’s bowling should improve over the next week.

Sri Lanka

- The last time the World cup was staged in the sub continent, it was the Lankan tigers who walked away with the trophy. Arjuna Ranatunga inspired the Rest of the World as he enabled Sri Lanka announce themselves on the World stage.

- 15 years later, the World cup is back in the sub continent and you would not bet against the Lankans, they are wily at home and looked determined like never before. Muttiah Muralidaran is sure to hang his boots up with the closure of this tournament and would look to bring home the cup after 15 elusive years.

- The Lankan top order looks solid, with Tillakaratne Dilshan taking them of to blazing starts on a regular basis. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene provide the perfect foil in the middle order. It is their lower order batting that is a little questionable, Angelo Mathews does not look good enough to provide the impetus at the fag end of the innings on a consistent basis. They rely on other bits and pieces cricketers in Thisara Perera and co to do the job.

- Nevertheless, you cannot discount them. Just a reminder, Sanath Jayasuriya was an unknown commodity too in 1996, so you never know with the Lankans.

- Their bowling seems very steady with Lasith Malinga and Muralidaran leading the pack. Sri Lanka should make the semi finals and stand a very good chance this tournament if they can sort out their late order batting.

Pakistan

- The only consistent thing with Pakistan is inconsistency. On paper they look a very balanced unit, one that opposition teams must really take seriously. But which Pakistan you get on the day, can never be told. It is a well documented fact, Pakistan on their day can beat the chickens out of their opponents.

- They have looked impressive this tournament barring the outing against New Zealand where they threw away their position of strength and ended up being battered like one of the minnows.

- A steady top order lead by Younis Khan and Misbah ul Haq is followed by a flamboyant middle order in Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi with Abdul Razzaq providing the finishing touch. Perhaps the most efficient lower middle order across all teams, Pakistan is sure a team to watch out for.

- The bowling complements their batting perfectly, 2 front line seamers backed by a steady Razzaq and useful spinners in Afridi and Rehman to do the job. However, Pakistan’s biggest issue for many years now, has been their fielding. The fielding fails to give teeth to the bowling and they tend to put down a couple of catches, least, every match.

- Contenders this year, if only they can shave of the slack and unprofessionalism, Pakistan may just do what they did in 1992.

New Zealand

- New Zealand, workman like, have been very industrious in the way they have gone about things. Nothing flashy in their cricket, steady and stable.

- One feels for New Zealand, with a population under 50 lacs, it must be hard to find full time professional cricketers.

- It has to be Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor who have got to do the bulk of the job with the bat, if New Zealand stand any chance this world cup. Daniel Vettori, by far is their most proficient and experienced player.

- A lot of things have to go wrong for other teams and a lot right for NZ if they have to proceed any further than the quarters this World cup.

- The lack of a game changers with both bat and ball is a huge problem for the Kiwis. They will have to make do without them or hope young guns in Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson come to the fort.
- A good side in decent form but may find it difficult to proceed ahead of the quarter finals.

Australia survived a hiccup or two in their easy win over Canada at the M Chinnaswamy in Bangalore in the 35th World Cup game on Wednesday. Chasing 212 for a win, Australia got there in 34.5 overs with Shane Watson declared the man of the match.

Canada batted first after they had won the toss and opened with Hiral Patel and John Davison. It was a surprising move but probably brought about because it was going to be Davison’s last international game for the Canadian side.

Canada started off very well, as the pair went after the Australia pace duo of Shaun Tait and Brett Lee from the word go. Davison smacked three boundaries in his innings of 14 before he was consumed by Lee but that hardly stemmed the run-flow as Patel went smacking the opposition bowling.

41 came off the first four overs and by the time the first Powerplay was up, the side had got to 77 for the loss of one wicket – just six short of the World Cup highest this year.

It was the half-century and the ensuing dismissal of Patel that brought an end to the scoring rate. Surkari began slowly and Ashish Bagai, at the other end, did his bit to resurrect the innings as well as the pair added 68 for the third wicket.

At 150/2 in the 29^th over, there were visions raised of a chase of more than 300 but that was stalled by the bringing back of the quicker bowlers.

Tait got the wicket of Bagai for 34 and that spelled the start of a capitulation that saw the side lose five for 19. Lee was the other wrecker as he blasted through to a four-wicket haul even as the Canadians were bowled out for 211 in the 46^th over from their position of great strength.

In reply, the opening partnership of Shane Watson and Brad Haddin were a picture of stark contrast. They did not open their shoulders until they had settled down considerably and when they did, there was no looking back. Both got to their respective half centuries and then blasted a total of six sixes in all, apart from the boundaries.

The pair added 183 for the first wicket in just the 28.3 overs before Haddin missed his century – dismissed for 88 – and this was soon followed Watson being sent back for 94. Ricky Ponting pottered around before getting out for 7 but Michael Clarke and Cameron White saw the side through to an easy win with 15 overs to spare.

With this win, Australia now have nine points from five games. It means that irrespective of the result of their last game in the group stage against the Pakistani side, they cannot finish fourth in the group. If they beat Pakistan, they will end at the top of the table whereas a loss would mean that depending on the result of the New Zealand-Sri Lanka game, they could end up either second or third. In all probability they would end third given their net run-rate.

Crowds always support the under dogs, the team who is behind, unless it’s a home team, to make a cricket match interesting. However, CWC 2011 has only been able to see competitive matches with strong performances from minnows against the cricket majors.  In another disappointing one sided affair, . Mitchell Johnson was adjudged Man of the match for his 4 wickets for just 33 runs.

It was an obnoxious start for the kiwis with the opener Martin Guptil taking 19 deliveries to open his account. Brendon McCullum on the other hand, in his usual style, creamed the opposition over covers on multiple occasions. McCullum fell in the fourth over handing a catch to Krejza.  Jesse Ryder showed some promise and pulled a couple of bowls from middle and leg towards the long leg for consecutive boundaries of Mitchell Johnson. Guptil innings soon came to end to a ball keeping low and it opened the flood gates for rest of the Kiwi side. Ryder was caught behind and Franklin got out in the similar fashion poking outside off stump. NZ were tumbling wickets and lost Styris in a matter of few balls and were in shambles in the 15^th over with 6 down at 73. The younger McCullum showed some intent and scored a well compiled 52 while captain Vettori managed an impressive 44 to make NZ reach a respectable but below par 206 all out with almost 5 overs to spare.  Brett Lee spearheaded the attack with two maidens in his spell of 8 overs giving away just 29 runs. Tait’s fury was New Zealand’s trouble as he struck on three occasions but the hero of the day was Mitchell Johnson who uprooted four NZ victims for only 33 runs.

The ruthless openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin left no stone unturned in forcing New Zealand bite the dust as they cruised the scoreboard to 74 in the first power play without losing a single wicket.  Haddin in particular played some scintillating drives caressing the ball through covers and through the ‘V’ and made a better than run a ball fifty. At the other end, the man in form of his life, Shane Watson raced to 62 in just 61 balls. Hamish Bennett gave some respite by picking up both the openers in the 19^th over of the second innings. Ponting’s dismal run continues as he was stumped of Southee for 12. Michael Clarke and White ensured no further hiccups and drove Australia home with 7 wickets to spare.  NZ bowling was lacklustre and they need to regroup for the future matches. Australia is sending strong signals to all the teams and is just finding the right touch at the right time.

Final Score:

NZ       206 all out (45.1 ovs)

AUS    207/3  (34 ovs)

Australia wins by 7 wickets

Australia defeated Zimbabwe by 91 runs

On a placid track, Zimbabwe was successful in restricting the mighty Australia for only 262 for 6 victims in the allotted 50 overs.

Australia started their march with, the man in form of his life, Shane Watson and the wicket-keeper batsman Brad Haddin. Despite the class of Watson and Haddin, they could only manage a meagre 28 in the first 10 overs but importantly, without a wicket. Ray Price shared the new attack with Mpfou and maintained tidy line and length.

Zimbabwe struck gold in form of Haddin, through the first ever successful technology review (DRS) in CWC 2011, of the bowling of Utseya. After Haddin, next successful scalp, came through another DRS review, was in form of dangerous Watson who was sending the white leather to stands with his brutal power. Australia were restricted to 144 for 3 when a direct throw from Mpofu, who was alert in the outfield, claimed the captain Ricky Ponting. The responsibility to resurrect the innings came on the able shoulders of Clarke and White who managed a decent partnership till Mpofu uprooted White’s timber, resulted in scoreboard to read 207 for 4. Yellow brigade lost two more quick wickets after cameos from Hussey and Smith.

Zimbabwe openers had to face some music from, arguably the fastest pair in world cricket today, Lee and Tait. They came out early from the hiccups with Coventry creaming the ball over cover
point soon before Lee claimed his first victim of the innings, catching Coventry on his own bowling. Taylor started to build the innings before he was sent back and shortly followed by Taibu, who guided a seamy delivery to the slip cordon. Craig Ervine was caught napping to Johnson, which was eventually claimed through the help of another successful DRS of the game and Zimbabwe was tottering for 44 for the loss of 4 wickets in the second power play.

Williams was later claimed by Johnson after his decent stand with Chigumbura who was caught behind by the safe gloves of Haddin for 14 in the 22nd over and Williams’s wicket reducing the score to 96 for 6. The lone battle was further held by Utseya and Cremer to give some respect to the final total and Zimbabwe’s thanks giving happened at 171 with Australia registering their 30th consecutive
win in the world cup.

Overall, Zimbabwe put up a good show in bowling by restricting Australia to a fighting total, which could have been restricted further had they had a specialist 5th bowler, but couldn’t manage to see through with their limited batting resources. Johnson bowled some immaculate line and duly supported by the fire power of Tait and Lee. Shane Watson was aptly chosen man of the match for his knock of 79.

Australia would like to put the past back and regain momentum with this win and continue their unparalleled success in last three world cups and make a mark again.

England's Andrew Strauss in action against Australia 2009 Ashes npower Test Series Second Test First Day

After a nail-biting first test match the Ashes Series travels to Lord’s for the Second test match between England and Australia. Some of the key factors before the start of this match include the time wasting tactics used by the Englishmen in the first test match and Andrew Flintoff’s decision to retire from test cricket after the Ashes Series. The Australians will be aware of both these factors when they taken on England in this match to get the upper hand in the series. The pre match hype if not serious will play a key role in the outcome of this match as neither team will take each other lightly.

The Australians will know that they had England pinned right on the mat and missed securing victory by a narrow margin in Cardiff. They might go into the match a little disappointed with England happy to be on level terms. Only time will tell if these factors play a key role in the match. The conditions on field are excellent for the bowlers from both the teams as the wicket at Lord’s will offer the required pace and bounce. However, Lord’s has been a special place for the Aussies since the Englishmen have never got the better of them in this venue for the last 75 years of the Ashes series. Perhaps it is time to add a new chapter to the history of Lord’s this time round or will it be the same story as heard often while going through the pages of history.

Lord’s might be the venue where the English captain Andrew Strauss can get a huge score after missing out in the First test match. This is the ground where Strauss plays county cricket for Middlesex, so nothing is unknown to him regarding this venue. However, the Australians should not sleep on their record in this venue. The Englishmen have not fared badly on this wicket. Strauss himself has got an average of over 50 in his last few innings on this ground. The Australians will need to show similar kind of form as in the first test match to ensure that their record remains intact in this venue. The England squad will have five bowlers with a slight concern regarding Flintoff’s knee injury. Steve Harmison is there to make the squad incase Flintoff pulls out. Graham Onions might get a look in as the wicket of Lord’s might not be suitable for two spinners. The Australians are likely to send out the same squad into the field to get the better of England this time round.

Though drawn test matches happen more frequently in Lord’s but the bowlers should be happy that this pitch has a bit of juice in it to help the bowlers. The Cardiff wicket was a nightmarish situation for the English bowlers as they did not get any kind of assistance from the wicket. Neither did the Australian batsman lower their guard. In a match held in 2005, 17 wickets tumbled on the opening day on this wicket. Therefore, one should expect a lot of lively bounce and movement for the faster men in this match.

England manage to draw the first test against Australia in Ashes Series 2009

One can simply say that it was an amazing test match that just concluded between England and Australia at Cardiff. There could not have been a more perfect beginning to the Ashes series as Australia pushed hard for victory in the first test match and England managed to hold on to salvage a draw in spite of some very ordinary bowling performance in the test match by its bowlers. The Englishmen were totally outplayed in all the departments whether it be bowling, batting, or fielding. England narrowly managed to get a draw out of this test match due to some determined and courageous batting by Paul Collingwood, James Anderson, and the English spinning wizard Monty Panesar. With this result England managed to head for the second test of the Ashes series with everything to play for in the upcoming matches.

If one looks at the closing stages of the test match then it was a huge task for both Monty Panesar and James Anderson to save the game for England. However, both these English knights showed enough courage and determination to hold fort in the final overs of the day and help England escape with a draw. Both these players played solid cricket to stop the Aussie bowlers from getting the last wicket, thereby denying Australia victory in the first test match. Panesar saw off 35 balls and Anderson saw off 53 balls in the closing stages of the match to make sure that England could snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat staring right into their face. In this course of time England tried out various tactics by calling the 12th man and Physio on several occasions to make sure that the game slowed down. However, it was grit and determination of the last pair that saw England sail through to salvage this draw.

England started the first innings of the match by handing over the advantage to the Australian bowlers as they were reduced to 97 for 3 at lunch on the first day. However, some solid batting performances from thereon by Kevin Pietersen (52 runs) and Paul Collingwood (50 runs) ensured that England were going smoothly till the final session of the day. Australia struck back in the final session of day one to reduce England to 336 for 7 with just the tail left in the England first innings. The second day started off well as Graham Swann and James Anderson played with a positive frame of mind to ensure that the English tail wagged a little longer so that England could put a decent first innings score of 435 runs on board.

However, the best part of the match had ended for the Englishmen as the Australians took control. The match from Day 2 afternoon session onwards till Day 5 afternoon session belonged to the Aussies as they outplayed the Englishmen in all departments of the game. The Australian batsman butchered the English bowler as they hit them to all parts of the ground. There was arrogance in the way the Aussies played and scored runs freely as the English bowlers toiled hard to get them out. Without any major contributions from the spinning duo of Panesar and Swann, the English pace attack looked toothless on an excellent batting strip laid out in Cardiff.

The Australian batsman dictated terms to the English bowlers and showed their batsman the way to get big scores in test matches as they pilled up a huge total. The major contributions came from Katich, Pointing, North, Clarke, and Haddin as the Aussie run machine feasted on the lackluster English bowling attack.  The Aussie captain was simply outstanding in the match as he scored 150 runs to ensure that the Australians did not need to bat again. Notable contributions from Katich (122 runs), Clarke (83 runs), North (125 runs) and Haddin (121 runs) ensured that the Australians put up a mammoth 674 runs in the first innings before declaring on Day 4 with an overall lead of 239 runs. The Australian bowlers were warmed up to hit form in the second innings as the English batsman faltered on Day 5 of the test match. Had it not been for Collingwood, Panesar and Anderson, it would have been a sure shot victory for the Australians. However, the end result is that both the teams are tied at 0-0 for the series and would hope to turn the tables in the next test match.

Australian continued their dominance on day 4 of the first Ashes test in Cardiff. Building on their 44 run lead, Marcus North and Brad Haddin both hit centuries.

England were sloppy, poor fielding was opitimised when Alastair Cook threw a ball in from the boundary, there was a very good chance of running out Haddin at the bowlers end, despite plenty of time, Anderson was not stationed by the stumps, and the opportunity was missed.

After lunch Haddin broke loose, the Australians looking for quick runs in time for a declaration. Also in mind was the weather, which was in danger of curtailing the fourth days play.

Haddin eventually cracked on to Ravi Bopara at deep mid wicket, and with that he departed for 121, Ricky Ponting declared on 674 – a lead of 239, with Marcus North not out for 125.

England returned to a grim scene – not only their position in the game, the clouds were looming, and the floodlights were on. They were tentative to start, after hooking him for four, Alastair Cook played across the line of a straight ball, and Mitchell Johnson had his man – England were 13/1.

The lights were on, but unfortunately for England – there was no-one at home. Ravi Bopara was unfortunate to be given out LBW, off the ground, the ball struck him well above the knee roll. Billy Doctrove didn’t agree, Ben Hilfenhaus had his wicket and England were starring down the barrell at 17/2. With a hint of rain, and the floodlights doing their bit to keep the players out there on a grim afternoon, England headed in for tea at 20/2.

And that ultimately – was that. The day was called off for the day. The weather seems much better for tomorrow, and England have their work cut-out. They still trial by 219 runs, and with nothing to play for – other than the draw – they must be moderately attacking and avoid the awful performance in Adelaide where they scored 60 runs in two sessions when trying to bat out for the draw.

A dominant 189 run partnership between Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich swung the pendulum firmly in Australia’s favour in day 2 of the First npower Ashes Test, Cardiff.

England amassed an extra 99 runs in the morning session before finally being bowled out for 435. Australia’s start was electric, with Phil Hughes hitting a run a ball 30 before lunch. Andrew Flintoff eventually had him caught behind, but after that the play was all Australia as Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting hit centuries as Australia ended the day on 249-1, trailing England’s total by 186.

England’s start to the day was very positive. Beginning on 336/7 Stuart Broad struck two delightful fours off Peter Siddle, one a scorcher past mid off. The Nottinghamshire man met an unlucky end to his innings, a ball from Mitchell Johnson hit the underside of his thigh pad and dragged back onto his stumps.

Broad’s demise didn’t stem the scoring however, Graham Swann looked to be forceful, and keep the scoreboard ticking over, night-watchman James Anderson also got in on the act as the pair pushed three’s to the long square boundaries at the SWALEC Stadium. The positivity forced Ricky Ponting to spread sweepers on both the square boundary.

England’s aggression forced the Australian skipper to bring on Nathan Hauritz. And no doubt to the delight of batsman Graham Swann – an no doubt all of the England camp, Hauritz’s first ball spun sharply off the pitch, past the keeper for four byes.

Undeterred, Swann went after Hauritz – striking two consecutive boundaries down the ground followed by an audacious reverse sweep that went to the third man boundary. Swann and Anderson’s 50 run partnership coming up in just 38 balls as England were racing along at 7 an over in the morning session.

James Anderson fell trying to hit Hauritz over the top, and Monty Panesar after struggling for a short while, eventually edging the off-spinner to Ricky Ponting a gully.

Phil Hughes got off to a flyer at the beginning of the Australian innings, Stuart Broad imparticular on the receiving end of Hughes’ aggression as Australia made it to 39-0 in a short spell before the lunch break.

Immediately after lunch Andrew Flintoff was bought into the attack bowling around the wicket to Hughes. The over was lively, short pitched, but to Hughes’ credit – he evaded the short ball well.

A short while later Flintoff forced opener Simon Katich to punt one back at him, he stuck his giant claw in the direction of the ball, and agonisingly for him and for England, the ball popped out and down to the ground.

But the breakthrough finally came when Flintoff had Hughes get an inside edge through to ‘keeper Matt Prior who took a smart catch diving away to his right – Hughes departing for 36.

In the following over Stuart Broad had close LBW appeals against both Katich and Ricky Ponting. Katich got a feather of an inside edge on his, and Ponting had himself well outside the line of the off stump – but Broad, England and the fans, were defiantly fired up.

The pair settled in for the afternoon session, as England turned to both spinners Graham Swann and Monty Panesar without fortune. On the stroke of tea Ponting scored a 2 off Broad to take himself to 11,001 test runs – joining the select group of Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Allan Border.

Simon Katich went past 50 as Australia reached 143-1 at tea, the Flintoff/Hughes battle aside – Australia’s session.

It was much of the same after the break, the pair bought up their 100 partnership of 179 balls. Andrew Strauss tried every option available to him, but Ponting and Katich stood firm as Australia bought the 200 up. The run rate continued at 3.5 an over and England struggled to get any movement with the ball, or much life out of the pitch.

On the stroke of stumps Simon Katich bought up his hundred off 214 balls, and Ponting likewise off 155 balls. Australia ended the day in a dominant position – only 1 wicket down, and trailing by only 186 runs.